The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-08-29
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< A SERMON 49, T&
pY THE REV MXS9@s|
YIAM MHENDERSoNNsi
Subject; "The Opportunities and
Abilities of the Church"

nue., on the above theme, the Rev.
Ira Wemmell Henderson, pastor,
took as his texts Jno. ABS and Mat.
2S:20. He said
II was Theodore Roosevelt who
said. The one thing supremely
worth having is the opportunity
coupled with the capacity to do a
thing worthlly and we'll, the doing
of which in its vital importance
touches the welfare of all human
kind"
Opportunity and ability-that is
to say, the chance and the capacity
to do. All true success is a combina-
tion of these two elements in human
life. Failure Is lack of either or of
both Without opportunity the man
of capacity, of ability, of real worth
is handicapped in the race of life.
To be without the chance to do IS to
be doomed to failure, whatever may
be our capacities or abilities for ac-
complishment. Contrariwise lack of
ability shears opportunity of value.
The mute, inglorious Milton of whom
the bard so sweetly sang, was, and
is to-day a man of power, of ca
pacty. of ability, lacking in oppor-
tunity Not otherwise many a man
has had opportunity standing at the
door Of his life beckoning to success
who has shorn that opportunity of
its value because he has had no abil-
ity. because he has been unable to
accept the chance that was presented
TO his view. If there is a sadder
thing than man of genius lacking
in opportunity, 1t is chance awaiting
the acceptance of incompetency.
Ability needs opportunity in order to
the exercise and the presentation OF
the powers of the human soul. Like.
wise opportunity is valueless with.
out corresponding and sufficient abil-
isy.
As with the world so with the
church of the living God. The church
has ability beyond any force that
works for righteousness and for God
in the world to-day. But II the
church has no opportunity for the
exercise of her diyinely granted ca
pabilities for the uplift and the re-
generation of the world her capacities
are valueless. On the other hand
whatever the opportunities OF the
church may be. save as she has the
ability to do the work that God has
given her to accomplish her oppor.
tunities are voided.
The opportunities and abilities OF
the church of the Lord Jesus Christ
Lfh uS AOOh l0t Il Al4OlAAEul dl ltA Ol-
portunities There are to be found
to-day conditions that are at the first
glance Numerically opposed that af-
ford an opportunity for the church
of the living God. The opportunity
of the church is to be found in the
lack of principle so largely presented
in the lives of the leaders in our
social life. as has been revealed in
the recent and horrifying disclosures
in our political and financial and in
dustrial affairs. Another opportunity
of the church Is to be found in the
imperfect acknowled gment upon the
part of men in all walks of life of
their accountability to God and to the
divine control A further opportunity
of the church is to be realized in the
present distrust in the finality Of ma
teriaism as a method of life and pro-
gress which is increasingly common
in all grades of society aud among all
classes and conditions of men. We
are growing to know that money in
itself is Of little value. We are ma
turing into a comprehension Of the
truth that wealth without character
is a condemnation of its possessor.
We are learning to grasp the fact
that the things that are temporary
are really transient; that the spirit
ual realm in the universe of God af-
fords the greatest satisfaction to the
soul, is most Of account, lays hold
upon eternity. Opportunity for the
Christian church is to be found in
that comprehension Of the value OF
the eternities that is becoming in.
creasingly the vogue Men, multitudes
OF men, find that the life that dis
counts the relations of the human
soul to its divine Creator is dlssat.
tsfying They are critical OF theii
own spiritual fitness, and OF the
chureh's They are questioning the
credibility and reliability of tn,
church's spiritual concepts and dee
larations The church has a glorious
opportunity in the return toward Coo
that is characteristic of the lives o
a host of Gods children Throughout
this land. From sea to sea, from
lakes to southern CULTS, materialisn
is palling on thoughtful wandereri
from God, the truth is appealing anC
with such force as seldom in tn,
history of the world II has an
pealed. To be sure this appeal h
along new lines, 1t Is suited to tht
needs and the demands OF this da-
and of this generation. II Is no
yesterdays appeal, 1t Is to-day's. Blu
it is real II Is vital. It Is COMPEL
ing. 1t is heard II will bear fruit
1t will be the leayen in the mea
that will perfect society and make
palatable TO thoughtful men. II
the truth OF God 1t is Gods voic
IN the language of the land and @
the day, II Is the message of tn
Almighty to the people. II eanno
be denied. 1t will not be denied
There Is moving In the tree tops
The footballs OF Jehovah are to b
heard on earth. The signs Of tn
times, he who runs may read. An
man with an open ear and open ey
and an open mind may hear, and see
and satisfy his soul in the contempIa
ton of such revelations as are a
transcendent as they are immediat,
Having considered in some fash
ion the opportunities of the churcl
let us consider now some of the abb
titles OF that organization, institute
2f God among men. into whose hant
a has been given the tremendous, d
vine task TO transform individu
lives and to transmute sinful. erriI
human society into the image OF d
heavenly democracy of God
The abilities of the church a
commensurate with her opportun
ties. Emmanuel is with her,
truly as He was with Israel. God
In her midst His prasanea inanfr