The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-16


Terse Comments upon the Uniform
Prayer meeting Topic of the Young
Peoples Societies. Christian Endeavor,
Baptist Young Peoples Union, Ep-
worth League. etc. for June II, The
Glorihed Life John 17:1-10, 22-24.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Except Christ be in US we have no
hope of glory.
When the spirit of Christ fills the
heart he drives out the spirit of critic
ism. Holiness is never manifest by find
ing fault with the unholiness of others
Love, long suffering, and gentleness are
invariable fruits of the Spirit.
Without Christ. without purity. peace
and power.
If We labor to pile up good deeds for
which we may be rewarded at the judg-
ment our motives for service will be
wrong and we may go unre warded- But
if we give ourself to ministry, simply
because the Spirit of Christ possesses
US. then our works viii glorify him in
deed The motive of ministry IS more
important in Gods sight than its re-
suits.
Peace. in the highest sense, cannot be
known outside of Christ. He it is who
gives US. in place of our restlessness.
striving, selfishness. and discomfort, a
peace that the world cannot know and
cannot take away.
Growth glorihes God. Every increasing
Christian is a testimony to the realty
Of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are
doing acceptable service for our Master
when We are simply growing.
Christianity is less a method of out
7
life. We possess religion when we pos
sess Christ. But without his presence
in the heart no code of ethics or course
of action can make US Christians.
The spirit-hIled life is empty of self.
When Christ comes in, self goes out.
The two are Incompatible. When Jesus
begins to resign he dethrones selfish
ness. If there is to be a new life, there
must be an utter surrender of the old
viii, with all its ways. The presence
Of God in a persons heart is proved by
a character of unselfshness and service.
It is impossible for Christ to dwell in a
selfish heart, for 10 do SO would be to
share an idols throne
We honor the Spirit most by yielding
to him.
Surrender is the secret of success in
serving the Saviour. We are welded
by him@which is success-when we
are yielded to him. God asks only that
We give up absolutely to him. When
we let him control our life he fashions
it into proportions Of symmetry and
beauty. Let us not deceive ourself
into believing that happiness or sue
cess can come to any soul that is not
one with God.
This is advanced truth which Paul
teaches when he talks about the be-
levers Identification with Christ. To
the carnal mind 1t Is unintelligible Yet
1t is one of the most precious of truths
of the Bible The redeemed are dead
10 sim and their lives are hid with
Christ in God Henceforth it is no
longer they themselves that live, but
Christ that lives in them. Their pres
ent life is a life of faith, made possible
by the Son of God who loved them
and gave himself for them. 1t is com
pletely wrapped in Christ. It exists by
his power, through his wisdom and for
his glory. Its beginning and end is
Christ; he is all and in all.
When the Spirit rules our lives he
makes US servants of others.
It is when rooted In Christ that we
bear the fruits of the Spirit These
are possible only to those whose life
roots strike down into Jesus himself.
This is the one and only way of attain
Ing these graces of beauty. They can
not be initiated successfully and they
can not be grown by any other kind of
life than that which is united to Christ.
But such a life can not help bearing
them unconsciously, any more than a
perfect fruit tree can help bearing its
fruit in season.
-
No man can understand the Holy
Spirit. Wise saints in all ages of the
church have disagreed on incidental
points concerning his character and
mission. His coming and his work are
a mystery. Nevertheless, while it is
true that no man can fully compre-
bend the Spirit. yet it is equally true
that the humblest saint may receive
him He can not be explained but he
may be experienced.
Only clean heart can be Christ's
home.
All growth comes from within We
do not take on virtues as we put on
clothes. Outward graces are but the
manifestation Of an inward spirit Ex-
ce1lent Christians are they in whose
! hearts Christ dwells supremacy. What
ever is praiseworthy in them has its
root in an indwelling Presence. If we
would be like Christ without we mus
/ have Christ within.