Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-05-30
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer ing Topic For the Week
slanFlE June 3.


sianflg June ,.
Nv. S. II. DOYLE.
Topic y what it is. what it does
Heb. XII xii. l.. p
"Falth IS the substance of things
hoped f3r Jnd the evidence of things
hot seen. This is the definition given
by the writer of Hebrews in the chap
ter selected for our study. According
to this definition. we have in faith
what IS real, though not yet ours, and
also the evidence that things unseen do
really exist The faith spoken of ~
this chapter is not what we mean when
we speak Of Christian faith, which in
wolves primarily faith in Jesus Christ
as our Saviour. Faith here is gen
eral belief in God, and in this chapter
we have splendid array of illustra-
lions Of such faith in the lives of men.
Indiyiduai faith in God characterized
all the heroes Of the Old Testament
named IL this category Of those who
accomp.. =hsi great deeds and endured
great huclships in life. Abel believed
In God. as was proved by his offering
of an acceptable sacrifice unto God.
Abraham believed in God and mani
Tested his belief by leaving his own
country at the call Of God and going 70
abide in one in which he was a stran-
ger The faith of Moses in God was
illustra led in his willingness to leave
the court Of Pharaoh and give his life
in the service of God and Of his coun-
trymen. So down to the last patriarch
mentioned in this list Of ancient wor-
thies faith was the handspring of their
lives. Faith in God should be the ba-
sis of every human life. To believe In
Him and 10 trust in Him mean the best
and truest success in life and the sur
mounting of difficulties that would 9th
erwise be impossible.
The achievements of faith are nu-
merous and far reaching in their appli.
cation to various phases Of life. The
most casual review of what faith did,
rs set forth in this chapter, is sufficient
evidence of this fact, and 1t also
teaches us what faith does and may
still do today.
1. Faith makes our sacrifices and
services acceptable to God. Abers OF
fering was accepted because of his
faith. and without faith it Is impos-
lible to please Him" To make any
sacrifice or 10 do any service for God
that will please Him demands faith on
our part. Not to believe in God and to
serve Him acceptably is evidently an
impossibility
2. Faith makes us obedient to God.
Faith in God led Abraham to obey God.
Every one who really believes in God
should obey Him. 1t seems Incredible
that men can believe in God and yet
not obey Him. Faith and obedience
should go hand in hand. and in this
way we shall best serve God and shall
receive His blessing as Abraham did.
3. Faith helps us to overcome Diff
culties. This is written in the lives
of all these heroes. Great difficulties
stood in the way of their service OF
God, but they were rolled away in the
presence of faith. Seeing Him who is
invisible" to whom "all things are pos
sible," difficulties apparently insur-
mountable were easily overcome. and
they came off more than conquerors.'
If you want to successfully meet the
trials and temptations of life hold fast
your faith in God. Commit thy way
unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and
He win bring 1t to pass"
BIBLE READINGS.
Deut. xxi. 80; Matt viii. 40; TX.
Is. 2T-31; Mark iv, 36-41; xi, %; Luke
xvii, 8, 6; xxi, 81, 80; Gal ii, 20; Heb.
ri, 1-6.