Arizona republican., 1907-11-11

en- he blessed and brake. and gave the
 loaves to his disciples, and the disci- ples to the multitude And they did
 all eat and were filled; and they tool up the fragments that remained, twelve
 baskets full.
 The text teaches d number of prac- tical lessons: The loaves and fishes
 are typical of the bread of life. which
 we, the followers of Christ, are to dis tribute to the starving world.
 The distinct lessons are to be glean-
 ed from this description of Christ feed
 ing the multitude: First, it shows plainly how dependant we are upon God for success in distributing to the
 world the bread of life. It emphasizes the need O. human effort and the re- suits of simple obedience. How help less were the disciples to feed the multitude. J=st as they. with the five
 fishes were unable to feed the throns until Jesus had taken, broken and passed to them, so are We Christ's fol- lowers, todav unable to give the bread or life to those perishing about us un- til it has received the divine touch. | Had the disciples doubted the null titude. would have remained hungry, and this miracle never been perform ed
 Gods word teaches over and over again that through our dependence up- on Him we succeed. T am the vine, ye are the branches" When I am weak. l then am I strong" sa-s Paul. Gideon through apparent weakness, was made strong as were numbers of others we
 read of in the Scriptures. In the spiritual sphere more than in any other mans extremity. is Gods 1 opportunity. God works not through angels, but through men. | God sent the fire from heaven. but i the altar was first made ready by | human effort. The Israelites were enabled to cross the Red Sea. but the waters did not divide until their feet were upon the brink.
 Naaman's leprosy. was cured after [ he had dipped in Jordan seven times. Christ annointed the bling mans eyes. but his sight returned to him after he had bathed them in the pool. When Jesus said to the man who had not walked in thirt- years, Take up they bed and walk it would have | been O- no dNdn ndu not tHe StTlChen man made the attempt
 The first of the miracles, the turn , ing os the water into wine, was made possible only by the obedience of , those serving. They put more water into the pots, drew 1t off. and bore to the governor without question. Even at the restoring of Lazarus the hu- man effort was rot omitted. Take yc awa- the stone: loose him and let him go." were Christ's commands. God k rot going to do -our work and mine ir saving souls.
 Prayer IS not al! of Christian life, only through faithful service are brought into the Kingdom. Are we living up to our responsibil- tiles? Do we realize that through our indifference. souls are perishing? God wants trusting obedience from his children.
 Then they gathered after all were fed, twelve basketsfulI. He that scattereth receiveth Give and it shall be given unto you again.
 All through the ages some men have stood out as possessed of spec Hal gifts. yet only in a sense is that true. They brought talents to receive the divine touch, then went unhesitat- ingly forward to do their part. Unto us is given the blessed privilege of carrying to the hungry multitude the bread of life which Hs is so freely giv- ing into our keeping.
 Will we pass it, that all may be filled?
 These were in substance, some of the thoughts presented by Rev. MT Campbell